Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

Porsche Unveils New 911 Cup: Sharper, Smarter, and Ready for 2026 Grid

Porsche has officially pulled the covers off the latest generation of its one-make racing thoroughbred: the new 911 Cup, a purpose-built evolution based on the updated 992.2-generation 911. This newest iteration of the iconic Cup car is set to debut in the 2026 season of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Carrera Cup championships, and various Porsche-sanctioned series around the globe.

With over 5,381 units of one-make 911 race cars produced to date—and 1,130 examples of the current 911 GT3 Cup alone—Porsche Motorsport continues to refine its formula, this time focusing on a trio of priorities: performance, cost control, and usability.

Refined Engineering, Elevated Performance

At the heart of the new 911 Cup is a familiar yet more potent force: the naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six boxer engine, now tuned to produce 382 kW (520 PS). Despite the ten-horsepower increase, the engine retains its 100-hour overhaul interval, a nod to Porsche’s commitment to durability alongside outright speed.

Flow-optimised throttle valves, longer valve openings, and design adaptations like an optional air restrictor ensure that this motor not only sounds every bit the race car but can also comply with a wide range of technical regulations across various series.

A more robust four-disc sintered metal clutch, new exhaust options, and a rev bump for standing starts ensure that both performance and spectacle are turned up a notch. There’s also an auto-restart feature for quicker recovery after stalling and a stroboscopic brake light system for added safety at race starts.

Sharper Aerodynamics and Smarter Design

From first glance, the 911 Cup draws clear inspiration from the 992.2 GT3, especially up front. A revised three-piece front splitter reduces repair costs, while the omission of daytime running lights minimizes damage risk and radiator vulnerability in side-to-side action.

New louvred fenders and turning vanes direct air more efficiently, boosting front axle downforce. Underneath, an aerodynamically optimized underbody further sharpens high-speed stability. Out back, the reworked swan-neck wing and lighter, eco-conscious carbon components (using recycled carbon fibre and bio-based resin) continue Porsche’s trend toward performance with sustainability in mind.

Race-Ready, Yet Easier to Run

Simplicity without compromise is a clear theme in this generation. The new 911 Cup incorporates a range of features that improve drivability, streamline operations, and reduce team workloads.

The Bosch M5 ABS system, now standard across all Cup cars, benefits from new acceleration sensors and advanced leak detection. Enlarged brake discs (now 35mm thick at the front) deliver improved heat management and longevity—ideal for endurance formats.

Inside, the revised multifunction steering wheel adds rotary ABS and traction control dials, while colour-illuminated buttons ensure easier readability. Fewer buttons on the central control panel simplify driver interaction, while a new “extra menu” page offers deep configuration options—no laptop required.

Even small touches—like revised steering lock angles and additional foam protection in the cabin—underline Porsche’s driver-focused approach.

Technology from the Top, Built for the Grid

The new 911 Cup borrows from its big brother, the 911 GT3 R, integrating proven tech like GPS-based lap tracking, pit lane timing, and a clever “pre-kill” system that shuts off the engine during pit stops.

There’s also a TPMS upgrade that displays tyre air temperatures, enhancing driver feedback and setup precision. A new electronic monitor even checks the charge level of the car’s fire extinguisher—an often overlooked but critical safety system.

Built by Racers, for Racers

Michelin has developed a new generation of tyres for the 911 Cup, tested rigorously at Monza, the Lausitzring, and Weissach with former Porsche Juniors and seasoned pros. According to Matthias Scholz, Director GT Racing Cars at Porsche, “The new 911 Cup stands out thanks to the extensive attention to detail that has gone into its development. It is stronger, faster, yet also more practical.”

Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, echoes that sentiment: “Driving the 911 Cup has always been regarded as a challenge. And we want to keep it that way because it also serves as the training platform for our Porsche Juniors.”

A Global Benchmark, Refined

With its latest iteration, the 911 Cup continues to serve as both a launchpad for future stars and a reliable workhorse in global GT racing. Whether battling through tight city circuits or high-speed sweepers, it remains a visceral and rewarding tool, now sharpened further with tech, efficiency, and long-term cost in mind.

As Porsche Motorsport readies for the 2026 season, it’s clear that the legend of the 911 Cup is far from done evolving.

Source: Porsche

NEW CARS

Garagisti & Co GP1: The Analog Supercar for the Digital Age

In an industry racing toward electrification and automation, it’s easy to forget the raw thrill of mechanical purity. Naturally aspirated engines and manual transmissions—once the humble norm—have now become the unicorns of the automotive world. These days, if you want an unfiltered, analog driving experience, you’ll need deep pockets and a taste for exclusivity. The latest marque to embrace this philosophy is Garagisti & Co, a newcomer with a nostalgic name and a bold debut: the GP1 supercar.

The name “Garagisti” harks back to the underdog privateer teams of 1950s and ’60s Formula One—small operations that dared to challenge the factory giants. Far from amateur, however, this new British-Italian outfit has stepped onto the stage with a machine that demands attention.

Limited to just 25 units and priced at a staggering £2.45 million before taxes, the GP1 is anything but subtle. Designed by Angel Guerra—whose resume includes stints at Bugatti and Rimac—the GP1 wears its heritage on its sheet metal. The design draws from legends like the Lancia Stratos Zero and Lamborghini Countach, with angular drama and a wedge-shaped silhouette that turns every parking lot into a concours d’elegance. Its dial-style forged wheels add a layer of retro-futurism that makes it almost criminal to consider any alternative, such as a traditional five-spoke.

Inside, the GP1 proudly rejects the screen-obsessed minimalism of today’s luxury cars. The cabin is unapologetically analog, with a raised central console reminiscent of the Porsche Carrera GT and a prominent black gear lever—your direct line to a motorsport-derived Xtrac 6-speed manual. It’s a cockpit designed for driving, not swiping.

Power comes from a 6.6-liter naturally aspirated V12 developed by Italtecnica, an Italian engineering firm with racing pedigree. The engine screams to 9,000 rpm and produces 800 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque. While those figures may not shatter records in the era of electric hypercars, they are paired with an astonishing curb weight of just 1,000 kilograms (dry). That makes the GP1 roughly 40% lighter than Lamborghini’s V12-powered Revuelto, which is bloated by turbochargers and hybrid tech.

For context, Gordon Murray Automotive’s T.50—a similarly analog, V12-powered marvel—also tips the scales at around 1,000 kg and offers a comparable ethos. But the T.50’s Cosworth engine, though more rev-happy at 11,500 rpm, produces a slightly lower output of 663 hp and 467 Nm of torque.

Garagisti & Co may be new to the scene, but the GP1 proves it’s no lightweight—literally or figuratively. With its blend of old-school charm, meticulous engineering, and supercar performance, it’s a love letter to enthusiasts who believe that the future doesn’t have to be digital.

Source: Garagisti & Co

NEW CARS

Bentley’s First Batur Convertible Is a Bespoke Symphony of Power and Craftsmanship

Bentley has unveiled the first of its ultra-exclusive Batur Convertibles — a bespoke automotive sculpture born from the creative partnership between Mulliner, Bentley’s in-house coachbuilding division, and a visionary client. Representing the pinnacle of personalization and performance, this one-of-one creation is a bold new chapter in Bentley’s bespoke lineage.

At first glance, the Batur Convertible is unmistakably a grand tourer with presence. Finished in shimmering Opalite paintwork, its silhouette is dissected by a black gloss racing stripe flanked by fine Mandarin pinstripes, stretching from the radiator grille over the bonnet and cockpit ‘airbridge’ to the rear deck. The stripe doesn’t end there — it reappears as bespoke embroidery over the rear tonneau cover, connecting past and present with a tactile nod to classic coachbuilt racers.

This is no static showpiece. Beneath its elegant exterior lies the most powerful version of Bentley’s legendary W12 engine — a hand-assembled, 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged unit delivering a staggering 740 bhp. It’s a farewell tour de force for the W12, engineered with all the refinement one would expect of a marque that’s been redefining luxury since 1919.

The Batur Convertible’s dramatic visual language continues through every detail. Its signature matrix grille is finished in gloss Beluga black, accented with Mandarin highlights, echoing the bold contrast seen on the bespoke five-spoke alloy wheels.

Yet it’s inside the cabin where Mulliner’s craftsmanship — and the client’s meticulous vision — truly come to life.

The interior is a ‘one plus one’ arrangement, where the driver and passenger zones are presented as contrasting, yet harmoniously balanced, environments. The driver is immersed in Beluga black leather and Alcantara, accentuated by Mandarin hide that wraps the console, instrumentation, and door waistrails. The Batur pattern is subtly picked out in Linen and Mandarin stitching on the seat bolsters and door inserts, emphasizing a motorsport-inspired focus.

Meanwhile, the passenger is cocooned in a lighter, more relaxed environment. A Linen hide and Alcantara seat, detailed with Mandarin stitching, provides a sharp contrast to the driver’s cockpit. Even the rear luggage area follows this split-personality concept: Beluga on the driver’s side, Linen on the passenger’s, with coordinated luggage sets and even color-matched bespoke key cases.

Every surface, switch, and detail has been obsessively refined. The fascia and door waistrails feature a satin black engine-turned finish, while the centre console gleams with gloss Beluga veneer. Titanium accents are found throughout — from the air vent rings and rotary controls to the gearshift paddles and the steering wheel’s top dead centre marker. Even the illuminated sill treadplates are unique, bearing the Batur name and production number.

The Batur Convertible made its dynamic debut as “Car Zero” at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, dressed in a dramatic Vermilion Gloss over Vermilion Satin livery. It now heads to the US for Monterey Car Week, where it will undoubtedly command attention among the world’s most discerning collectors.

As the third Mulliner Coachbuilt model — following the Bacalar barchetta and Batur coupé — the Batur Convertible represents a masterclass in modern coachbuilding. Production is strictly limited, and each car is co-designed with its future owner using a bespoke visualisation tool, allowing an infinite number of color, material, and finish combinations.

The result? No two Batur Convertibles will ever be alike. They are as much about personal expression as they are about automotive excellence.

In an era increasingly defined by digital replication and mass production, Bentley’s Batur Convertible stands defiantly as a rolling work of art — a symphony of engineering, craftsmanship, and individuality.

Source: Bentley